Frequently asked questions for Human adenovirus vector vaccine
Human adenovirus vector vaccine
Q. Is Human adenovirus vector vaccine safe and effective?
Human adenovirus vector vaccine is one of the three vaccines in the world with reported efficacy of over 90%. Furthermore, the clinical trial data published in The Lancet suggests that no serious adverse events were detected. Most adverse effects were mild, with flu-like symptoms, injection site reactions, headache, and fatigue as the most common side effects.Q. Can Human adenovirus vector vaccine be given to children?
Human adenovirus vector vaccine has not been studied for safety and effectiveness in the children/pediatric population so far. As per the current guidelines, only people aged 18 years or older are advised to receive this vaccine. Therefore, it is advised not to give any COVID-19 vaccine to children till we have enough data available.Q. Is it important to take both the doses of Human adenovirus vector vaccine?
Yes. It is extremely important to get both the doses of Human adenovirus vector vaccine. This is because Human adenovirus vector vaccine contains two different virus vectors in each dose and this is what makes it unique. Both the vectors are weakened human adenovirus, namely rAd26 and rAd5, and they cause common cold symptoms such as cold, fever, cough, watery eyes, sneezing, etc, in humans. These are already known viruses, which are easy to study and have been known for a longer time to our health experts. Moreover, it was seen in the conducted trials that this kind of dosing produced better and longer-lasting immunity in people who received both the doses, 21 days apart. So, for best results, you are advised to take both the doses of Human adenovirus vector vaccine.Q. What are the most common side effects of Human adenovirus vector vaccine?
The most common side effects of Human adenovirus vector vaccine are pain at the injection site, generalized tiredness, and fever. However, these are mild and usually resolve with time. If they bother you or do not go away, please consult your doctor. Your doctor will prescribe some medicines or may suggest ways to cope up with these side effects.Q. How can Human adenovirus vector vaccine be stored?
As per Russian guidelines, Human adenovirus vector vaccine can be stored at a temperature of +2 to +8 degrees Celsius, which allows for easy distribution worldwide.Q. What is the efficacy of Human adenovirus vector vaccine?
Human adenovirus vector vaccine is one of the three vaccines globally, having an efficacy of above 90%, the other two being Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The actual efficacy of the vaccine was clocked at 91.6% by the analysis of data received from 19,800+ volunteers who were administered with both doses.Q. What are the other leading vaccines that are approved to be used worldwide?
So far, 14 vaccines have been approved in at least 1 country. The other leading vaccines, except Human adenovirus vector vaccine, that are being used worldwide are Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford/Astrazeneca, Moderna, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Covaxin, and Covishield. Janssen, AstraZeneca, Covishield, and Sputnik are all based on non-replicating viral vector technology. Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are RNA-based while Covaxin uses an inactivated protein subunit. Irrespective of the technology being used, all the vaccines aim at preventing Covid-19 and scientists are still studying as well as developing more vaccines to fight against the global pandemic. While most of the vaccines are given in two doses, Janssen is a single-shot vaccine.Q. I already got infected with COVID-19 once. Do I still need to get vaccinated?
Yes. People who have already been infected with COVID-19 should still get vaccinated unless told otherwise by their healthcare provider. Even if you’ve had a previous infection, the vaccine acts as a booster that strengthens the immune response. There have also been some cases of people getting re-infected with COVID-19, which makes getting vaccinated even more important.Q. Does vaccination with Human adenovirus vector vaccine protect me against newer strains/mutated versions of the COVID-19 virus?
Yes. All vaccines are expected to provide a reasonable amount of protection against the newer strains/mutated versions of the COVID-19 virus also. The body responds to vaccination by making more than one type of antibodies, that effectively destroy the virus. Based on the currently available data, the mutations as reported, are unlikely to make the vaccine ineffective and protect an individual against COVID-19 effectively.Q. What is Emergency Use Authorization?
Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or permission for restricted use is a declaration issued by Indian regulators in alignment with global guidelines, to use certain vaccines, medicines, or devices to diagnose, treat or prevent a serious medical condition (such as COVID-19 in the current scenario) in case there is an outbreak of such an illness that poses threat to public health. Regulatory authorities may not approve the use of any such medical measures but may still allow it to be used against the illness weighing the benefits against the risks involved. However, there are continuous lab assessments and clinical trials to check on the safety, effectiveness, and quality of the vaccines.Q. What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus disease 2019, better known as COVID-19, is an illness of the lungs caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), which is seen to infect humans for the very first time. COVID-19 is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads from one person to another at a very fast pace. Persons suffering from COVID-19 are likely to have breathing difficulties, fever, and cough as the major symptoms.